Elderflowers
Delicate, floral and perfumed, elderflower is a quintessential British summertime flavour.
Welcome to this week’s Recipe Crumbs Newsletter
Like all fruit tree blossoms, the elderberry has a short flowering period, running from late May to early June and the best time to pick the elderflower blossom is in June, when the flowers are at their freshest and most fragrant.
The most common use for elderflowers is making homemade cordial. The flowers or cordial can be used in special summer desserts from iced desserts to cakes and pastries, as well as drinks, and even savoury dishes.
I have never made elderflower cordial myself. It has been on my must try list for a long time but for one reason or another I’ve never quite got around to it. We have a small elderflower tree in our garden up in Suffolk but I always seem to miss the chance to pick them during the fleeting season or I have been too busy to use them. You really need to use them within 24 hours of picking.
But I love the flavour, so I often use elderflower cordial to flavour some of my bakes and desserts. This week I’m sharing some of those recipes with you.
Next Friday, my son gets married, so my monthly look back at the month just past, which I would have been publishing next Sunday, will likely be a little later than usual.
Happy cooking and have a delicious week.
P.S. I love seeing your photographs, so if you make any of my recipes and are happy to share them tag @recipecrumbs on social media or send them by email.
🍴 Featured Recipe
Lemon and Elderflower Cupcakes
These dainty lemon and elderflower cupcakes have a delicate flavour and would make an elegant addition to an afternoon tea spread.
📌Cook’s Tip
Elderflower pairs especially well with lemon, gooseberries, strawberries, rhubarb and raspberries.
Add to whipped cream or buttercream to give cakes and desserts a light floral note without overpowering them.
Mix into yoghurt, crème fraîche or mascarpone for a quick dessert topping or filling for pavlovas, tarts and roulades.
More Recipes using Elderflower cordial
Easy Rhubarb and Elderflower Jam
Just three ingredients are needed to make this easy rhubarb and elderflower jam. The finished jam has a lovely, fresh, sweet flavour with just a hint of elderflower. Perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. Jam sandwiches anyone?
Elderflower and Mascarpone Cream Tartlets
These pretty little elderflower and mascarpone cream tartlets are decorated with fresh redcurrants and whitecurrants. The red and white currants have a jewel like appearance that works well in these little bite-sized tartlets but you can also use other berries.
Gooseberry Ice Cream
Elderflower and gooseberry go together really well and both are in season at the same time. This ice cream is delicious on a hot June day.
Rhubarb Cake with Elderflower Drizzle Icing
Rhubarb is another fruit that I find goes really well with elderflower
Tips for Foraging Elderflowers
Pick elderflowers on a warm, dry day when the flowers are fully open and creamy white. This is when the flavour and fragrance are at their best.
Avoid picking blooms that are starting to turn brown or drop petals, as they can taste slightly bitter.
Choose flowers from bushes away from busy roads or areas that may have been sprayed with chemicals.
Snip whole flower heads gently with scissors rather than pulling them, which helps avoid damaging the plant.
Shake the flower heads lightly before using to remove any small insects, but avoid washing them unless absolutely necessary as this removes some of the fragrant pollen that carries much of the flavour.
Only take what you need and leave plenty behind for wildlife, and to become elderberries in Autumn.
Use elderflowers as soon as possible after picking for the freshest flavour.
Tips for Storing Elderflowers and Homemade Cordial
Fresh elderflowers are best used within a few hours of picking, though they can be kept in the fridge overnight wrapped loosely in kitchen paper.
Freeze flower heads flat on a tray before transferring to freezer bags if you want to save them for later.
Homemade Elderflower cordial keeps well in sterilised bottles in the fridge for a couple of weeks, or can be frozen for longer storage.
Label frozen cordial with the date, as the delicate flavour is best enjoyed within a few months.
Ice cube trays are useful for freezing small amounts of cordial ready to add to drinks or desserts.
Just for fun…
You know what my answer is!
If you would like to you can find Mary Berry’s Elderflower Cordial recipe here on the BBC Good Food Website
📖 Cookery Terms Made Easy
Rolling Boil – A rapid, violent boil that cannot be stirred down.
Coming Soon – That was the month that was May 2026
The gooseberry ice cream caught my eye! Great post, Jacqui, and I always love your photos. Best wishes on a happy wedding week and day. Roll around in all that love.